Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1892
Mr. Grubb to Mr. Blaine.
Madrid, January 16, 1892. (Received January 29.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy and translation of a note which I have just received from the Spanish Government in reply to the representations of the United States regarding the treatment of the American missionaries in the island of Ponape.
I have, etc.,
The Duke of Tetuan to Mr. Grubb.
Palace, January 17, 1892.
My Dear Sir: The kind note of the chargé d’affaires ad interim of the legation now under your worthy charge, which he was pleased to address me on the 4th of November last was duly received, as also its in closures.
Having examined with interest the contents of the above-mentioned note in reference to the missionaries (American citizens), long ago established in the Carolines, I ought, in the first place, to state to your excellency that Her Majesty’s Government has given this subject especial attention, desiring to show the Government of the United States with how much interest its observations are received.
As soon as the bombardment of Oua took place, and in consequence of the same the destruction of the church and other property of the Methodist missionaries established in Ponape, sad events which the Government of Her Majesty is the first to deplore, an immediate investigation was directed to be made of the affair and of the losses suffered, so that upon the facts it might decide the course to pursue, animated by the same friendly feelings which it has always shown towards the Government and citizens of the United States.
The orders of the Government having been duly and scrupulously carried out, there results from the investigation referred to—
- 1.
- That the American church and other property destroyed at Oua had no sign on it to denote its foreign nationality, not even the inscriptions which the politico-military governor of the Eastern Carolines had given to the Methodist missionaries in order that their buildings should be recognized.
- 2.
- That the destruction of these buildings was caused in legitimate defense by the fact of the native insurgents using them as their stronghold, keeping up from them a hot fire against the Government troops. The destruction of said buildings had as an object the avoiding that they might in future act as an obstacle to the military operations which were being carried on; and
- 3.
- That the protest presented by the American missionaries, regarding the establishment of a Spanish Catholic mission at Oua, did not allege any right of property as to the grounds on which the Spanish mission was going to be established; it did not even mention that it would be inconvenient or incommodious to them, but the protest was exclusively based on the idea that from the proximity of both missions the Protestant singing might annoy the Catholic mission.
The conclusions given above will be enough for your excellency and the Government you so worthily represent to appreciate in the same manner as that of Her Majesty the character of the occurrences of the Caroline Islands during the last insurrection of the natives. The imperious though lamentable necessities of war were the sole cause for the destruction of the property belonging to the North American missionaries, without any breaking of the laws of neutrality on the part of the Spanish officers and authorities, through adoption of the measures forced upon them by the circumstances set forth.
It is not possible, therefore, to admit that from this fact, the lawfulness of which has been perfectly justified, any responsibilities of any kind should arise.
Her Majesty’s Government has a warm desire to be able to continue lending their aid and protection to the American missionaries resident in the Caroline Islands, thus complying with what the Government had the honor to state to that of the United States in 1885, when the question with Germany was still pending. In fact, the Government would see with the utmost pleasure the said missionaries lay aside all spirit of prejudice (prevencion) toward the Spanish authorities, and confining themselves simply to their religious and humanitarian purposes without any political significance or interference whatever in the matters and questions of the locality, in this wise contribute indirectly to the work of peace and civilization undertaken by Her Majesty’s Government in those remote regions, an integral part of the national territory.
Your excellency will recognize that it is absolutely indispensable for the good government of these islands that all their inhabitants shall respect and obey the legitimately constituted authorities, neither giving origin to nor furthering conflict of any sort whatever; this being so, the Government of Her Majesty will not see itself constrained to adopt such measures as will avoid difficulties of an internal character, and at the same time put off all possibility of international irritations (rozamientos).
In the letter addressed by the politico-military governor of the Eastern Carolines on the 25th of October, 1891, to the commander of the United States man-of-war Alliance, your excellency must have read the charges which, with noble frankness, he formulates against the action of some of the American missionaries, and it certainly [Page 491] must have called itself to the attention of your excellency that the missionaries themselves praise the prudence and tact displayed by said authority—a fact which gives greater value to his judgments and assertions.
However, the Government of Her Majesty, aspiring to please that of the United States, lays aside such charges, and trusts that the continuance of the American missionaries in the Carolines will not give rise to any difficulties as to the progress and peaceful development of that Spanish colony. In this intelligence it will continue dictating further instructions.
In respect to the case of Mr. Doane, of which mention is also made in the note to which I have the honor to reply, it is very pleasant for me to state to your excellency that Her Majesty’s Government awaits some evidence (antecedentes) which must soon come from the Governor-General of the Philippines, in order to settle the same with all haste possible and in the most just and equitable manner.
I take advantage, Mr. Minister, of this opportunity to reiterate to your excellency assurances of my highest consideration.